DOWNEY – The Long Beach Press-Telegram announced their annual “Dream Team” for girls’ volleyball last Thursday. Downey High School’s outside hitter, Kimberly Schnars, was selected to the First Team Dream Team.
Schnars has been a four-year starter for the Lady Vikings. Schnars played with her sister, Heather, when she was a freshman and helped the Lady Vikings win the 2011 C.I.F. title.

Schnars was the leader on a Lady Viking team that went 17-4 overall this past season and 10-0 in San Gabriel Valley League play. Schnars recorded at least 15 kills per game and even recorded 30 kills against Del Rio League foe La Serna.

Downey has owned the San Gabriel Valley League the last several years and appear to reload their talent after each season. Downey consistently has very good teams and are always the S.G.V.L. team to beat.

Schnars was the only player from the San Gabriel Valley League to be selected to any Dream Team. Of the 26 First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention selections, 15 were from the Moore League. Lakewood was the Moore League champion and had seven players recognized while Long Beach Poly, also from the Moore League, had four players recognized. La Mirada was the Suburban League champion and had two players recognized.

The Downey High School wrestling team competed in the individual Bash Tournament held at West Hills College Dec. 26-27. The Vikings placed fifth overall with 137.5 points.

Elk Grove took first place with 244.5 points, Bloomington was second with 235 points, Dinuba was third with 163 points, Mission Oak was fourth with 140 points and Downey was fifth.

Pioneer Valley finished in sixth place with 134 points, Hanford tied Santa Maria for seventh place with with 119.5 points, Buchanan was ninth with 118.5 points and Canyon Springs was tenth with 115 points to round out the top ten finishers.

Downey had five wrestlers place in the top eight of their respective weight classes. Freshman Jonathan Prata (106) defeated senior Spencer Francesconi of Elk Grove 7-0 to finish in third place. Senior Mark Lopez (113) fell to sophomore Isaac Sechslingoff of Santa Maria 5-3 to finish in fourth place.

Downey will wrestle cross-town Warren next Thursday at Downey. Downey is the reigning San Gabriel Valley League champion and C.I.F. Division 4 dual-meet finalist.

The Vikings fell to champion Bloomington 49-15 in last year’s final.

••

The Warren High School wrestling team competed in the Clinch Gear Tournament of Champions at Tustin High School Jan. 2-3, finishing in 18th place overall with a total of 77 points.

Poway took first place with 300.5 points. San Gabriel Valley League foe Paramount finished in 49th place overall with 32 points. Over 60 schools competed in this highly competitive tournament.

The Bears had one wrestler place in the top eight of his respective weight class. That wrestler was Gabriel Rodriguez (170) . Rodriguez finished the individual tournament in eighth place with a record of 6-2.

Rodriguez defeated Kyle Andrews of Edison 15-2 in his first match. Rodriguez lost his second match to Gabe De La Rosa of Esperanza 7-5 and fell into the consolation bracket. Rodriguez defeated Richard Arriaga of Capo Valley by fall at the 2:42 mark in his third match. Rodriguez then defeated Daniel Burgoin of El Rancho by technical fall 17-2 to win his fourth match. Gabriel defeated Alex Michel of Lakewood 12-0 in his fifth match to advance.

Rodriguez pinned Ryan Tilton of Mayfair at the 2:40 mark to win his sixth match. Rodriguez then defeated Seungnak Shin of Redondo Union 11-4 in his seventh match before finally being defeated by Phillip Phan of Poway 12-4. Rodriguez wrestled well and had a nice run.

Warren began San Gabriel Valley League action yesterday against Gahr (scores unavailable at press time). Warren will travel to cross-town rival Downey next Thursday to take on the defending S.G.V.L. champion and C.I.F Division 4 dual meet finalists.

The Bears are looking forward to making a run at the S.G.V.L. title this year.

••

The Warren High School girls’ soccer team currently has an overall record of 8-2-2 and played Ocean View yesterday in their final preseason game (score unavailable at press time).

The Lady Bears return several key players from last year’s team. Sarah McGarry, Emily Flores, Jennifer Cortez, Estella Sanchez, Laura Aquije, Yesenia Gutierrez and Vivian Garcia all return with more experience and skill under their belts. Unfortunately, three key players have also been lost to ACL injuries. Ellie Spain, Giselle Hernandez and Kierra Arias are all out for the season.

Coach Dussan-Salazar has been pleasantly surprised by the emergence of freshman Amanda Carrillo. Carrillo is an all-around athlete who runs cross country at Warren as well. Amanda has also been playing club soccer for several years and is currently with the Slammers.

Dussan-Salazar maintains that all of her players “have been putting in hard work and have been very committed.” Dussan-Salazar continued by saying, “Sarah McGarry has been an amazing asset as well as our leading scorer Estella Sanchez.”

Dussan-Salazar feels really good about league this year. Dussan-Salazar believes she has an amazing group of girls who have an excellent work ethic and really want to win a title this year. Coach Dussan-Salazar, her staff and players are excited for league play to start.

Downey has owned the San Gabriel Valley League over the past decade and the Lady Bears hope to end that streak. Warren will host cross-town rival Downey next Thursday at 3:15 p.m.